Internal combustion engine



"April 3, 1934. A, R WURTELE 1,953,793

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE I v1/fw roze 41.14A/ E. Wanna? A. R. WURTELE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE April 3, 1934. A

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Patented Apr. 3f 1934 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Allan Ramsey Wurtele, New Roads, La.

' y Y Application May 16, 1932, Serial No. 611,612

zo claims. (ci. 12s-32) in my pending applications, Serial No. 571,490

and No. 582,988, filed October 28, 1931, and December 24, 1931, respectively.

An object of the invention is to provide in an internal combustion-engine, a valve mechanism comprising an exhaust valve having an enlarged head and a hollow stem adapted to be supported in a suitable guide provided in the cylinder head, and a tubular member being mounted within said valve and having a precomf bustion chamber which is situated within the valve head, and said chamber having a plurallty of suitable ducts connecting it with the cylinder, and a fuel injection nozzle being provided within said tubular member and having a connection with a fuel supply, and said tubular member being detachably supported within the valve so that it may readily be removed therefrom for cleaning and repairs, without removing the valve from the cylinder head.

A further object is to provide an improved exhaust valve, particularly applicable for use in connection with a Diesel engine of the straight flow type, said valve comprising an enlarged head and a hollow valve stem, and a tubular member being supported within said head and stem and having its wall spaced from the wall of the valve stem to provide an annular uid circulating passage, which passage is connected with the fluid circulating system of the engine so that the cooling fluid of the engine will circulate therethrough to cool the valve, and the ports which are provided in the walls of the valve stem and in the valve guide being so arranged that circulation through the annular passage in the valve is always maintained regardless of the rotative movement of thevalve in said guide, when the engine is operating.

A further object is to provide in an internal combustion engine comprising'a cylinder having a head securedto one end thereof and provided with a relatively large exhaust port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged head adapted to form a closure for said port and having a hollow valve stem open at one end and supported in a suitable guide in thecylinder head, said valve stem being adapted toreceive a tubular member having a cup-shaped member secured to one end thereofl and constituting a precombustion chamber, said cup-shaped member being engaged with a wall of the valve head, and

means being provided at the opposite end of the valve stem for detachably securing said tubular member therein, and whereby the memLer may readily be detached from the valve without removing the valve from the cylinder head Other -objects of the invention reside in the means provided for cooling the valve, which rneans comprises two circumferential water circulating passages, both of which are connected with the annular water circulating passage provided within the valve stem in such a manner that the cooling fluid or water will circulate through said annular passage to cool the valve structure; in the means by which the tubular member provided within the valve stem, and which also includes the precombustion chamber, may readily be detached from the valve without removing the latter from Athe cylinder head; in the particular arrangement of the fuel discharge orifices provided .in the cylinder head and from which the fuel is discharged from the precombustion chamber into the upper portion of the cylinder with a whirling action; in the means provided for limiting the downward movement of the valve stem when the tubular member is being removed therefrom; in the particular arrangement of the water circulating passages through the walls of the valve stem and guide, whereby said passages will be closed so as to prevent water from entering the valve stem and cylinder, when the tubular member is removed from the valve; in the provision of the flexible fuel supply pipe which connects the upper end of the tubular member with a fuel supply; in the means provided for connecting said fuel supply pipe with said tubular member, whereby the' valve is permitted to freely rotate in either direction, when.the engine is'operating; and in the simple and inexpensive construction of the valve mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will appear from -the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings', there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may 'be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view, showing a portion of an internal combustion engine with the invention embodied in the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the valve with the tubular member removed therefrom, and showing the valve positioned so as to prevent the cooling uid from circulating therethrough;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the tubular member showing the general construction thereof;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of Figure 3;

Figure l5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, showing the preferred manner of arranging the fluid circulating passages in the walls of the valve stem and the valve guide; and

Figure 6 is an. enlarged detail sectional view on the line 6-6A of 'E ucre 1.

In thelselected-embodiment of the invention here shown, there is illustrated for purposes of disclosurepa portion of an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder 2 shown provided with the usual water jacket 3, and having a piston 4 of ordinary construction mounted therein. The piston is shown provided with a connecting rod 5 by means of which it may be connected to'the usual engine crank shaft, not shown. A series of tangential scavenging ports 6 are shown provided in the cylinder wall, and these communicate with an air manifold 7 which may be connected to a suitable source of air supply under pressure as, for example, a blower or compressor. The means for supplying the scavenging air to the cylinder forms no part of the present invention and it is therefore thought unnecessary to show the same in the drawings.

The engine herein disclosed is of the straight flow type, and comprises a head 8 secured to the cylinder by suitable bolts, not shown. An exhaust port 9 is provided in the cylinder head and connects with a suitable exhaust pipe 10. A suitable exhaust valve 11 provides a closure for the exhaust port 9.

An important feature of this invention resides in the novel construction of the exhaust valve 11 and the means provided therein for supplying fuel to the cylinder. As best shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the exhaust valve comprises an enlarged head 12 having an annular beveled seat 13 adapted to engage a correspondingly shaped seat 14 provided in the exhaust port 9. The valve 11 further has an enlarged hollow valve stem 15 which preferably is integrally formed with the head 12 and is supported in a suitable guide 16 provided in the cylinder head.

The means for supplying fuel to the cylinder is shown in Figures 1 and 3 and comprises a tubular member 17 adapted to be fitted within the valve stem 15, as shown in Figure 1. A cup-shaped member 18 is detachably secured to the lower end of the tubular member 17 by suitable threads 19, and constitutes a precombustion chamber 21 adapted to receive fuel from a fuel injection nozzle 22 shown mounted within a plug 23 secured in a bore provided in the member 17. A suitable check valve 24 normally engages a seat 25 provided in the member 17, and is normally retained thereon by a suitable spring 26. The valve 24 is shown having a hollow stem 27 extending upwardly into the bore 28 of the member 17 to provide a guide for the upper reduced end portion 29 of the fuel injection nozzle 22. The nozzle is prov. led with suitable spiral grooves 31 which communicate with a small orice 32 provided in the plug 23.

The cup-shaped member 18 has a reduced cylindrical portion 33 adapted to be fitted into a bore 34 provided in the lower wall of the valve head 12 in such a manner that the lower face 35 of the cup-shaped member 18 will be substantially ush with .the lower face of the valve head, as' shown in Figure l. The cylindrical portion 33 which flts into the bore 34 terminates at. its upper end in a shoulder 36 adapted toenglag'e-a'suitable packing 37 and compress it against the face 38 provided in the valve head. A plurality of fuel ducts 39 are provided in the bottom wall of the cup-shaped member 18 and are preferably outwardly inclined, as shown in Figure 3 and tangentially disposed, as shown in Figure 4, so that when the fuel is projected therefrom into the combustion chamber 41 of the cylinder, it will have a whirling action, whereby it will thoroughly mix with the compressed air confined in the combustion chamber 41. A central duct 42 may also be provided, as shown.

An annular flange 43 is provided on the tubular member 17 and is adapted to fit the bore of the valve stem 15, as shown in Figure 1, to thereby axially aline the member 17 with the valve. The member 17 is detachably secured in the valve by means of suitable nuts 44 and 45. received in threaded engagement with the upper end of the valve stem 15. The nut 44 engages the upper face of the flange 43. whereby the member 17 may be forced downwardly into the valve stem so that the shoulder 36 of the member 18 will compress the packing 37 between it and the face 38 of the valve head, to thereby seal the joint between these parts.

An extension 46 is provided upon the tubular member 17, and extends beyond the end of the valve stem 15 and has a cap 47 secured to the upper end thereof, by suitable threads 48, as shown in Figure 3. A suitable compression spring 49 is shown interposed between the cap 47 and the upper portion of the cylinder head 8, and constantly exerts an upward force against the valve to retain it in closing engagement with the valve seat 14.

Another important feature of the invention resides in `the means provided for supplying fuel to the injection nozzle 22 of the member 17. Such means is shown in Figure 1, and comprises a flexible fuel feed pipe 51 having one end secured to the upper end portion 46 of the tubular member 17 in a manner to permit the valve to relatively rotate with respect to said pipe, when the engine is operating. To thus permit the valve to relatively rotate with respect to the fuel feed pipe 51. a suitable collar 52 is shown secured to the discharge end of the fuel feed pipe by suitable threads. This collar is received in an enlarged bore 53 terminally provided in the extension 46 of the member 17, and is retained therein by the cap 47. The collar 52 is permitted to relatively rotate in the bore 53, whereby the member 17 may relatively rotate with respect to the feed pipe. It is to be understood that when the cap is secured to the extension 46, it will tightly engage the up,- per end thereof so as to leave the collar 52 free to rotate in the bore 53. The collar, of course, has a snug fit in the bore so as to prevent fuel leakage.

'I'he fuel feed pipe 51 is preferably coiled as shown at 54 in Figure 1 and has its opposite end portion connected to a suitable support 55, to which a fixed fuel pipe 56 may also be connected. The pipe 56 communicates with the pipe 51, as shown, and may lead to a suitable source of fuel supply, not shown. By thus constructing the fuel feed pipe 51 and connecting it with the tubular member 17, as above described, the fuel feed pipe 51 will flex, when the valve is reciprocated and, at the same time, the valve may relatively rotate in its guide without tending to rotate thc fuel feed pipe 51.

The valve may be actuated by means of a bifurcated arm 57 supported upon a pivot pin 58 mounted in a lbracket secured to the cylinder head. 'Suitable anti-friction rollers 61 are shown provided upon the arm 57 and engage the upper face of the cap 47 of the member 17. The arm 57 is shown having a depending portion 62 carrying a roller 63 which rides upon the periphery of a cam 64, mounted upon a shaft 65 suitably supported upon thecylinder head.

Another feature of this invention resides in the means provided for cooling the valve. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the diameter of the tubular member 17 is relatively less than the bore of the valve stem 15, so as to provide an annular fluid circulating passage 66 within the valve stem, which extends from the flange 43 downwardly into the enlarged chamber 67 provided in the valve head l2. sages 68 and 69 are provided in the cylinder head 8, and surround the valve guide 16. Suitable ports 71 in the wall of the guide 16 are adapted to register with openings 72 provided in the valve stem 15, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, so as to permit the water to circulate from the valve stem into chamber 68. Similar ports or passages 73 in the guide 16 are adapted to register with openings 74,provided in the valve stem so as to conneet the water circulating chamber 69 with the and communicates vwith the chamber 68, and a similar pipe 76 is shown -connected with the wa'- ter jacket 3 at the lower portion of the cylinder. These pipes are preferably connected to a suitable radiator, as is customary in apparatus of this general type.

By thus connecting the annular fluid-circulating chamber 66 of the valve with the water circulating chambers 68 and 69, the cooling fluid quately cooled. vCirculation through the valveV stem is obtained by the well-known thermo- 'I Siphon principle. Suitable sealing rlngs 77 are .as shown in Figure 5, whereby fluid circulation is always maintained through the valve, regardless of the rotative position of the valve stem in the guide. The ports 73 and 74 of the water chamber 69 are similarly arranged so as to assure proper circulation through the valve at all times when the engine is operating.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the entire fuel nozzle assembly, including the tubular member 17, precombustion chamber 21, and fuel injection nozzle 22, may readily be removed from the valve, as shown in Figure 3, without removing the valve from the cylinder head. When the nozzle assembly is thus removed, the fuel discharge orifices 39 and 42 provided in the lower wall of the cup-shaped member 18, may readily be cleaned. If desired, the cup-shaped member 18 may be removed from the tubular member 17.

after which the fuel injection nozzle and its associated parts may readily be removed from the member 17 by simply nunscrewing the plug 23.

It is to be understood, of course, that before removing the tubular member 17 from the valve, the fuel` feed pipe 51 is detached from the upper end thereof.

To permit the nozzle and the precombustion,

circumferential water circulating pas- I chamber to be removed from the valve when the engine is operating, means is provided for preventing the valve from dropping into the cylinder, and such a means is shown in Figure 2, and may consist of an annular collar or ring 78 suitably secured to the upper end of the valve stem 15, and adapted to engage'the' upper face of the cylinder head, when the spring@ is disconnected from the valve. The ring 78 so positioned upon the valve stem that when it engages the cylinder head 8, the lower spherical face of the valve head 12 will be spaced from the upper end or face 79 of the piston 4, as indicated in Figure 2,

lin which the broken line indicates the uppermost position of the face 79. When the spring 49 is engaged with the valve, the collar 78 does not engage the upper face of the cylinder head.

It will thus be seen that by detachably mounting the tubular member 17 within the valve, that said member and the parts connected therewith may readily be removed from the valve without removing the latter from the cylinder head. It will also be noted that when the tubular member 17 is removed from the valve, and the latter drops to the position shown in Figure 2, the opening: 71 and 74 in the wall of the valve stem will be out of registration with their respective ports or passages 71 and 73, respectively, thereby preventing the water in the circulating system from entering thevalve stem from which it would discharge into the cylinder, because of the open bore 34 provided in the lower end thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head at one end thereof provided with valve guide and a port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged head having a hollow stem slidably mounted in said guide, a tubular member supported in said stem and provided at one end with a precombustion chamber, :aid chamber being situated within the valve head and having communication with the cylinder, means for supplying fuel to said chamber, and

`means by which said tubular member may be removed from the valve without removing the latter from the cylinder head.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head ait-'one endthereof provided witha valve guide and a port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged headhaving a hollow stem slidably mounted in said guide, a tubular member supported in said stem and provided at one end with an enlarged portion constituting a precombustion chamber, said chamber being situated within the valve head and having communication with the cylinder, means for supplying fuel to the precombustion chamber, and means by which said tubular member may be removed from the valve without removing the latter from'the cylinder head.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head at one end thereof provided with a'valve guide and a port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged head having a hollow stem slidably mounted in said guide, a tubular member secured in said stem and provided at one end with a precombustion chamber, which chamber is situated within the valve head and is in communication with the cylinder, a fuel injection nozzle in said tubular member, means connected wit?` lsaid member for supplying fuel to said nozzle, and means by which said tubular member may be removed from the valve without removing the latter from the cylinder head.

4. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head at one end thereof provided with a valve guide and an exhaust port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged head having a hollow stem slidably mounted in said guide, an elongated tubular member axially disposed in said stem and projectingl from the outer end thereof. said member being provided with a precombustion chamber, which chamber is situated within the valve head and is in communication with the cylinder, a fuel injection nozzle in said tubular member. means connected with the projecting end of said member for supplying fuel to said nozzle, and means by which said tubular member may be removed frorn the valve without removing the latter` from the cylinder head.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder. a head secured to one end thereof and provided with a valve guide and an exhaust port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged head having a hollow stem slidably mounted in said guide. a tubular member supported in said stem and having its wall spaced from the wall thereof to provide a passage for a cooling medium. said tubular member having a precombustion chamber therein disposed within the valve head, said chamber having angularly disposed ducts connecting the same with the cylinder. means for supplying fuel to the precombustion chamber through said member, means by which said tubular member may be removed from the valve without removing the latter from the cylinder head, and means by which a cooling medium may be circulated through the passage in said valve stem.

6. In an internal combustion engine. a cylinder. a head secured to one end thereof and provided with a valve guide and a port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged hollow head and stem, said stem being supported in said guide. a tubular member secured in said stem and having its wall spaced from the wall thereof to provide an annular passage for a cooling medium, said stem and guide having :duid circulating passages in the walls thereof whereby the annular passage in said valve is connected in the cooling system of the engine. a fuel injection nozzle in said tubular member, means connected with said member' for supplying fuel to said nozzle, and means by which said tubular member may be removed from the valve without removing the latter from the cylinder head.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head secured to one end thereof and provided with a valve guide and a port, a valve for said port comprising a hollow head and stern, said valve stem being supported in said guide, a tubular member demountably secured in said valve and provided at one end with a precombustion chamber, which chamber is situated within the valve head and is provided with a plurality of ducts connecting the same with the cylinder, a fuel injection nozzle secured in said tubular member, and a fuel feed pipe connected with the upper end of said tubular member for supplying fuel to said nozzle.

8. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder. a head secured to one end thereof and provided with a valve guide and an exhaust port, a valve for said port comprising a hollow head and stem, said valve stem being supported in said guide. a tubular member demountably secured in said valve and provided at one end with a precombustion chamber, said chamber having a plurality of tangential ducts connecting the same with the cylinder, a fuel injection nozzle secured in said tubular member and adapted to inject fuel into the precombustion chamber, a flexible fuel feed pipe movably connected with the upper end of said tubular member for supplying fuel to said nozzle, and means for sealing the connection between the fuel feed pipe and said tubular member.

9. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head secured to one end thereof and provided with a valve guide and an exhaust port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged head having a hollow stern, a tubular member axially disposed within said stem and having one end projecting through a wall of said valve head, said member having a precombustion chamber therein, means for supplying fuel to said precombustion chamber, the later having a plurality of ducts connecting the same with the cylinder through which the fuel may be sprayed into the combustion chamber of the cylinder, and means movably connecting said fuel supply means with said tubular member, whereby said valve may relatively rotate in said guide when the engine is operating.

10. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head at one end thereof provided with an exhaust port, a valve for said port comprising a hollow head and stem, a tubular member supported within said stem and provided at one end with a precombustion chamber, said member having a portion supported in a bore provided in a wall of the valve head, and said chamber having a plurality of outwardly extending tangential ducts connecting the same with the cylinder, means at the upper end of the valve stem for securing the tubular member therein, a fuel injection nozzle within said tubular member, and a flexible fuel supply pipe movably connected with the upper end of said tubular member, whereby said valve and member may relatively rotate when the engine is operating.

11. In an internalcombustion engine, a cylinder, a head therefor provided with an exhaust port, a valve for said port having an enlarged head and a hollow stem adapted to be slidably supported in the cylinder head, a tubular member axially disposed within said valve stem and having a chamber in one end, said chamber having communication with the cylinder, means for demountably securing said tubular member in the valve stern, a fuel injection nozzle within said tubular member, a fuel feed pipe connected with the upper end of said tubular member and adapted to supply fuel to the nozzle under pressure, and means for sealing the connection between said fuel supply pipe and said tubular member, but permitting said valve to relatively rotate in its guide when the engine is operating.

12. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, ahead secured to one end thereof and provided with a valve guide and an exhaust port, a valve for said port comprising a hollow head and valve stem, a tubular member demountably secured in the valve and having its walls spaced from the wall of said stem to provide a uid circulating passage around said member, said member having a precombustion chamber therein connected with the cylinder, and said stem and said valve guide having a plurality of fluid circulating passages in the walls thereof whereby the cooling uid in the engine cooling system may circulate through the passages to cool the valve, said valve being free to rotate in its guide when the engine is operating, and means for maintaining circulation through the fluidcirculating passages regardless of the relative rotative movement of the valve.

13. In an internal combustion engine, an upright cylinder, a head secured thereto and provided with a valve guide and an exhaust port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged head having a hollow stem slidably mounted in said guide, an elongated tubular member supported in said s'tem and provided at one end with a precombustion chamber, said chamber being in communication with the cylinder, means for supplying fuel to said chamber, means .by which said tubular member may be removed fromthe valve without removing the latter from the cylinder head, and means for limiting the downward movement of the valve when said tubular member is removed therefrom.

14. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head secured to one end thereof and provided with a valve guide and an exhaust port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged head having a hollow stem slidably mounted in said guide, an elongated tubular member mounted within said valve and having a portion engaged with a wall of the valve head, the inner hollow portion of said member being in communication with the cylinder, means on said tubular member for axiallyvalining it with the valve stem, means for demountably securing it thereto, said member having a portion projecting from the valve stem, a cap secured to said projecting portion, a spring engaged with said cap and with the cylinder head for normally retaining the valve in closed position, a fuel injection nozzle in said tubular member, means connected with said tubular member for supplying fuel to the nozzle,said tubular member being adapted to be removed from the valve without removing the latter from the cylinder head, and means for retaining the valve in said guide when said tubular member is removed therefrom.

15. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head secured to one end thereof and provided with a valve guide and an exhaust port, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged head having a hollow stem slidably mounted in said guide, an elongated tubular member mounted within said valve and having a portion seated in an aperture provided in a wall of the valve head, means at the upper end of the valve stem for axially alining said tubular member therewith, means for demountably securing the member to the valve stem, said member having a portion projecting from said valve stem, a cap secured to said projecting portion, a spring interposed between said cap and the cylinder head and normally retaining the valve in closed position, a fuel injection nozzle in said tubular member, the latter being adapted to be removed from the valve without removing said valve from the cylinder head, means for supplying fuel toisaid nozzle, and means for limiting downward movement of said valve when said tubular member isremoved therefrom.

16. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a head secured to one end thereof and provided with a valve guide and a port, and having fluid circulating chambers around said guide connected with the cooling system of the engine, a valve for said port comprising an enlarged head having a hollow stem slidably mounted in sai-d guide, a tubular member supported in said stem and having its wall spaced from the wall thereof to provide an annular fluid circulating passage, said tubular member having a precombustion chamber therein disposed within the valve head,

said precombustion chamber being connected with the cylinder, means for supplying fuel to the precombustion chamber through said member, said valve stem having ports therein adapted to register' with openings in said valve guide to 80 establish circulation between said fluid circulating chambers and the annular passage in said valve stem, and means for maintaining fluid circulation through the valve stemaregardless of the said stem and having its wall spaced from the wall thereof to provide an annular fluid circulating passage, said tubular member having a precombustion chamber therein disposed within the valve head, said precombustion chamber being adapted for communication with the cylinder, means for supplying fuel to the precombustion chamber through said member, means byV which said tubular member may be removed from the valve without removing the latter from the cylinder head, said valve stem having ports therein adapted to register with openings in said valve guide to establish circulation between said fluid circulating chambers and the annular passage in said valve stem, means for maintaining fluid circulation through the valve stem regardless of the rotative movement of said stem in said guide, and means by which said valve stem may be positioned to interrupt fluid flow therethrough, when the valve is inoperative.

18. In an internal combustion engine, a power cylinder, a cylinder head having a valve guide and a port therein, a valve for said port having an enlarged head portion and a hollow stem, a tubular member extending through said valve head and stem, means for injecting fuel through 12() said member into said power cylinder, and means for removably securing said tubular member in said valve, said member being adapted to be withdrawn through said valve stem.

19. In an internal combustion engine, a power cylinder, a cylinder head having a port therein, a valve for said port, said valve having an enlarged head portion and a hollow stem, a tubular member extending through said valve, the inner end of said member constituting a precombustion chamber having communication with said power cylinder, means for supplying a combustible to said chamber, and means for securing said member in said valve whereby said member may be removed from the valve through the valve stem.

20. In an internal combustion engine, a power cylinder, a cylinder head having a guide and a port therein, a valve for said port having an enlarged head portion and a hollow stem, said valve being free to rotate in said guide, a tubular member including a precombustion chamber extending through said valve, the maximum diameter of said member being less than the bore of said stem, means for removably securing said member to said valve for movement therewith, -and means 1145 for supplying a fuelto said chamber.

ALLAN RAMSEY WURTELE. 

